An invisible medium for circularly polarized electromagnetic waves.

We study the no reflection condition for a planar boundary between vacuum and an isotropic chiral medium. In general chiral media, elliptically polarized waves incident at a particular angle satisfy the no reflection condition. When the wave impedance and wavenumber of the chiral medium are equal to the corresponding parameters of vacuum, one of the circularly polarized waves is transmitted to the medium without reflection or refraction for all angles of incidence. We propose a circular polarizing beam splitter as a simple application of the no reflection effect.

Striking alteration of some populations of T/B cells in systemic lupus erythematosus: relationship to expression of CD62L or some chemokine receptors.

Recent studies have revealed new populations of T/B cells, including central/effector memory, follicular T cells and CXCR3+ or CXCR4+ B cells. In the present study, changes in these populations of CD4+ T cells were examined on the basis of the expression of CD62L, CCR7 and CXCR5 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in relation to CCL21 and CXCL10. Changes in CXCR3+, CXCR4+ and CXCR5+ B cells were also examined. CD62L and various chemokine receptors were examined by flow cytometry analysis using monoclonal antibodies, and CCL21 and CXCL10 were examined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In patients with SLE, a decrease of naive T cells and an increase in the ratio of activated effector memory T cells were associated with an increase of CCL21 and CXCL10 in serum, although the correlation was not significant. An increase in the ratio of CXCR3+ B cells was also recognized. These results suggest that naive T cells are transferred to lymphoid tissue by CCL21, and that effector memory T cells are activated by CXCL10. It is also suggested that B cells responsive to follicular helper T cells tend to migrate to inflammatory tissue.

Expression of B-cell activating factor of the tumour necrosis factor family (BAFF) in T cells in active systemic lupus erythematosus: the role of BAFF in T cell-dependent B cell pathogenic autoantibody production.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether B cell activating factor of the tumour necrosis factor family (BAFF) is involved in T cell-dependent B cell pathogenic autoantibody production in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 23 SLE patients were analysed by flow cytometry to examine the intracellular expression of BAFF in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and the surface expression of BAFF-receptor (R) and TACI on CD20+ B cells. Moreover, peripheral blood was used to determine the level of BAFF messenger RNA (mRNA) in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and the level of BAFF-R mRNA in CD20+ B cells. Blocking of BAFF function with TACI-Ig measured anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from patients with active SLE expressed intracellular BAFF whereas those from normal subjects did not. BAFF-R and TACI were expressed on B cells from both normal controls and patients with active SLE and there was no significant difference. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from SLE patients expressed BAFF mRNA whereas those from normal controls did not. Expression of BAFF-R mRNA in CD20+ B cells showed no significant difference between SLE patients and normal controls. TACI-Ig suppressed spontaneous in vitro T cell-dependent B cell anti-dsDNA antibodies production on active SLE with kidney involvement. CONCLUSIONS: BAFF may play a pathogenic role in SLE by stimulating T cell-dependent B cell autoantibodies production. Blockade of BAFF is a promising therapeutic approach for SLE especially in patients with kidney involvement.

Phenylethanoids in the herb of Plantago lanceolata and inhibitory effect on arachidonic acid-induced mouse ear edema.

The five phenylethanoids, acteoside (1), cistanoside F (2), lavandulifolioside (3), plantamajoside (4) and isoacteoside (5) were isolated from the herb of Plantago lanceolata L. (Plantaginaceae). Compounds 1, the major phenylethanoid in the herb of P. lanceolata L., and 4, the major phenylethanoid in the herb of P. asiatica L., showed inhibitory effects on arachidonic acid-induced mouse ear edema.

A phenylethanoid glycoside from Plantago asiatica.

A new phenylethanoid glycoside, plantasioside, was isolated from the aerial parts of Plantago asiatica. The structure of plantasioside was deduced from chemical and spectral evidence to be 1',2'-[beta(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-alpha,beta-dioxoethanol]-6'-O- caffeoyl- O-beta-D-glucopyranoside. In addition, the structure of orobanchoside from P. depressa and P. camtschatica was revised to be 1',2'-[beta(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)- alpha,beta-dioxoethanol]-4'-O-caffeoyl-O-alpha-L-rham- nopyranosyl-(1-->3)-O- beta-D-glucopyranoside from beta-hydroxy-[beta(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-4'-O-caffeoyl-O-alp ha-L- rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside.